Jigging apparatus for industrial nailing machines



R.H.HEARD Spt. 9, 1952 JIGGING APPARATUS FOR INDUSTRIAL NAILING MACHINES Filed April 24, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 A NN .mi EE 13 Jrmw I ll .G l I I l l I l l I l .I ICI. l. d mQm 95u13 1/l \\L NNN r 1 NNN @E en QN o N o Ecm mo l.lllk

NVVEUVTZU? REGMMLD H HEARD Arron/vn Sept. 9, 1952 "gil-l. HEARD 2,609,536

JIGGING APPARATUS FOR `NDUSTRIAI.. NAILING MACHINES Filed April 24, 1950 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 N rl i f d a f Q will', fr! Q\` j *fh/fw (n REGIA/ALD H. HEARD .v JIGGINGF'PRATUS FOR NDUSTRIAL NAILING MACHINES Arron/VFY 'REG/NALD H. HEARD JIGGING APPARATUS PQR NDusTRIAL NAILING MACHINES Filed April 24, 195o R. H. HEARD sept. 9, 1952 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 WNN WN l INVENTOR REG/IVLD H. HEARD DUV. e

M91 NNN Nm Q@ .E EN e .M A. h@ H um @A WQ m2 Nm, mw

Sein. 9, 1952 R. H. HEARD JIGGING APPARATUS FOR NDUSTRIAL NAILING MACHINES Filed 'April 24. 195o 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 mwN NQ l QQ m,

R. H. HEARD JIGGING APPARATUS FCR 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 24, 1950 0 mm ww. MH. N` l ma L M 6 n l m .l\ Wm m. uw A Pm Wm wmv T? wm mm A INM. Maw w )vw lli/L A r TOR/VFY R. H. HEARD 2,609,536

JIGGNG APPARATUS FOR INDUSTRIAL NAILING MACHINES Sept. 9, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed April 24, 1950 INVENTOR REG/NALD H. HEARD ATTURNEY patented Sept. 9, 1952 JIGGING APPARATUS FOR INDUSTRIAL NAILING MACHINES Reginald H. Heard, Riverside, Calif., assignor to Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application April 24, 1950, Serial No. 157,691

22 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of jigs and particularly to the jigging of work in special jobs to be assembled in an industrial nailing machine.

As an example of the uses to which the invention may be put, it will be disclosed in the present application as employed in the manufacture of cooling tower grids. These grids are made up of a number of longitudinal p-arallel wooden slats joined by a plurality of cleats which are disposed at various oblique angles with respect to the slats. Itis an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for jigging special types of assembly jobs, such as occur in manufacturing such grids, to facilitate nailing operations in rapid succession in nonparallel planes with reference to the work.

The manner of accomplishing the foregoing object as well as further objects and advantages will be made manifest in the following descrip tion taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

. Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic plan View of the rotating table of the apparatus with an industrial nailing machine associated therewith shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and illustrating a loaded jig resting on the aforesaid rotating table in position for the first nailing operation on the work carried thereby.

Fig. 3A is a fragmentary enlarged elevational view of the slat clamping control device of a jig of the invention, and is taken on the line 3A-3A of Fig. 3.

Fig. '4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3 and illustrates the approach of the jig shown in Fig. 3 to the longitudinally indexed position in which it is shown therein.v

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 showing said jig at a further point in its progress towards said indexed position.

Fig.A 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 and illustrates the arrival of said jig in said indexed position.

Fig. 1 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

"Fig, 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8-3 of Fig. 3 and illustrates one Lof lthe transverse work supporting forms of said jig:

' Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line llll D of Fig. 7.

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line l |-II of Fig. 3.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view takenon vthe line I2-I2 of Fig. 3 and illustrates plates 25 are tied together at spaced intervals 2 the manually controlled device for rotationally indexing the jig supporting table.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of Fig. 8.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. 6 and illustrating the jig longitudinal indexing device just prior to its halting said jigin an indexed position. l

Fig. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view in section of one of the transverse forms of said jig.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the invention is there shown as embodied in an industrial nailing machine 2U and a jigging apparatus 2 i associated therewith.

They nailing machine 26 is only diagrammatically shown herein as reference may be had for the details of this to the Co-pending application of Ernest A. Verrinder and ReginaldH. Heard, Serial No. 125,275, filed October 29, 1949, on Universal Box Nailing Machine.

The nailing machine 29 includes a frame 22 having vertical standards23, each of whichincludes a pair of heavy steel bars 24 which are preferably square in cross section. Secured at their ends by clamps 25 to the bars 24 are heavy longitudinal plates 26 of an anvil base 21. The by clamp plates 28, 2Q, 30, and 3l.

These clamp plates are united by bolts 32 to corresponding bottom plates 33, 34, 35, and 36. The plate 28 is provided with indexing holes 31 and 33. The clamp plate 3i) has an upwardly opening thrust-radial bearing 39 provided thereon which is located at the center of the anvil base 21 and the axis of which lies in the vertical plane which extends between the bars 24 of each stand-y ard 23 and is equi-distant from said bars. 'While the nailing machine 2B is capable of driving nails in a wide variety of patterns, the stresses of driving a single line of nails are most-l evenly distributed over the machine when these nails aredriven in the aforesaid vertical plane containing the axis of the bearing 39. This plane may be referred to hereinafter as the nail drivingplanef of the nailing machine.

The nailing machine 20 also has a nailing mechanism including a driver crosshead 45 which is supported at its opposite ends on devices associated with the standards 23, this crosshead reciprocating downwardly and upwardly with thel performing of each nailing operation. Fixed onI the driver cross head and extending downwardly therefrom is a lock release bar 46 (Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7j

10, and 14).

The jigging apparatus 2l includes a rotatable anvil table 5G (Figs. 2, 11, and 12) which comprises border plates `5i and 52 which are secured on upper faces of inverted channels 53. and 54 and also united by two systems of bracing 55 and' 3 5E. Also iixed upon said channels along cuter edges of plates 5| and 52 are angle iron guides 51 and 58.

Also secured to bottom faces of the border plates 5| and 52 in symmetrical relation with a transverse vertical plane midway between the ends of the table 5|.) are inverted channel sections 59 and 55. Overlying inwardly extending ends of the sections 59 and 5e and welded thereto are heavy bars 6|, the planes of which intersect at the axis of the bearing these bars being welded to a heavy pivot pin 52 which extends downwardly into the bearing 39 so as to pivot the table 5i! on the axis of said bearing. The table 5B is supported on the anvil base 27 by rollers 63 which are pivotally mounted on brackets Sil provided on the channel sections 5S and 60, these rollers resting in rolling contact with the upper surfaces of the clamp plates 2S and 3|. anvil 68 having a cover plate 69, opposite edges 68a of which are beveled as shown in Fig. 11.

Fixed on the upper face of the plate 5| in parallel relation with the angle iron guide 5l', and opposite approximately one-half the length of the latter, is an angle iron guide 'iii which cooperates with the guide 5i' to form a U-shape guide track 7|. Provided on inverted channel members 53 and 54 are guide rollers 72 and ball casters '13. Fixed on the bracing system 55 and the bottom face of the plate 5| is an inverted channel member T4 on which a bell crank 'i5 is pivotally mounted.

"Fixed on the inverted channel section 5S just outside the guide 5l is a plate 'i6 on which a bell crank is pivotally mounted, this having arms I8 and 79, the latter being slotted. Penetrating thechannel 59 and plate 76 and welded to the latter is a vertical tube 3i) having a cap 8| at its upper end and slots 82 in its sides. Slidable in the tube B9 is an indexing bolt 83 in which a pin 84 is imbedded crosswise so as to extend latrally vthrough the slots 82 and the notches in the arm i9. Trapped in the tube Si] between the cap 8| and bolt 83 is a coiled expansion spring 85 which yieldably shifts the bolt S3 downwardly so that when it is opposite one of the holes 3l or 33 is shown in Fig. 12, the spring S5 extends the bolt 83 into that hole.

The bell crank i5 is connected to the arm 'i3 by 'a link 8E permitting the bolt 33 to be manually removed from one of the holes Si' and 38 byy manipulation of the bell crank i5. The bolt 8.3 thus serves to index the table 5o in either of two positions, one of which is shown in Fig. 2, i n .which it is cocked out of rectangular relation with the nailing plane aforesaid of the nailing machine 20.

Referring now to Figs. and lli, a longitudinal indexing device Sii is provided on the inverted channel member 50. This includes a pair of angle-iron brackets 9| and 92 which are bolted tothe member 8B and to the guide 53. The bracket 92 is longer than the bracket SI and has a bearing 93 welded to its upper end. Disposed horizontally between the upper end of the bracket Sfl and the bracket 92 and united with these brackets as by welding is a horizontal guide tube 94. This tube has an inturned flange 95 at its outer end and is provided with a cross slot 95 and longitudinal slots 91. Slidable in the tube 95 is a locking bolt 98 having a cross pin S9 which extends laterally through the slots 97 so as to prevent rotation of the bolt 98 in the tube 915 andlimit its endwise movement therein. Trapped The heavy bars 6i unite to form an between the iiange and the bolt 98 is a coiled compression spring ISI. Journalled in the bearing 53 is a shaft |05 which is Xed on one end of an arm Hitl carrying a roller IB?, the opposite end of shaft m5 having xed thereto a collar |08 having a locking arm |35 which swings with the shaft |35 in the plane of the notch 96. Secured to the arm |96 and the bracket 9| is a coiled spring lie which constantly urges the locking arm HBS to enter the slot 95. Bolted on opposi-te sides of the channel members Si) and extending upwardly therefrom are bearing brackets in which a shaft ||2 journals. Secured as by welding to this shaft and extending upwardly therefrom are slotted arms i3, through the slots in which opposite ends of pin 99 extend. Extending substantially horizontally from opposite ends of shaft ||2 and keyed thereto are bolt release arms ||5 and H6.

The bolt release arm ||5 is located in vertical alignment with the release bar i6 when the table 5@ isin the indexed position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. When said table is swung to its other indexed position, in which the bolt 83 is lodged in the holeed, the arm H5 is in vertical align.- ment with the release bar 46. Thus, regardless in which ci said two rotationally indexed positions the table 55 may be, each action of the nailing mechanism or the nailing machine 20 to perform a nailing operation reciprocates the bar 36 vertically so as to engage one Aof the arms ||5 or H5 which acts to depress this arm and retract the bolt 'SB into the tube Elfi to bring the notch |69 of this bolt opposite the slot 96 thereby permitting the spring H0 to insert the arm |59 into the notch iii thereby holding the bolt 98 in withdrawn position for a purpose to be made clear hereinafter.

The table 5e is designed to accommodate jigs o1' various designs, each of which holds assembled thereon a series of wooden parts in the relationship in which it is desired that they be united by nailing operations of the nailing machine 20. As an example of the use to which this table may be put it is shown as designed for handling and associated with a jig |29 which comprises a rectangular vframe |2| made up of wooden end mem-A bers |22 and 23 and wooden side members |24 and |25 which are bolted together at the corners by angle brackets |25. Extending across the `iig l2@ at various angles relative thereto and tting between and being secured to the side members il and |25 are Work support forms |21, IM!v and |29. Forms i2? and |28 are identical, as they are disposed at the same angle relativey to the frame |2|, and form |29 differs from forms |21 and |2 in that it is disposed with reference to the frame |2| at the saine angle but in the opposite direction from the angle at which forms, l2? and |28 lie with reference to said frame.

A general description of form |29 will therefore suice for all three forms.

Referring now to Figs. 8, 9, 13, and 15 it is to be noted that form |29 includes a unitary sheet metal work support i3d, the principal element of which is a deep sheet metal channel |3| having a bottom |32 and sidewalls |33 and |34 and hav-` ing attaching plates |35 and |36 welded to said channel at its ends. It will be noted that these attaching plates are cbliquely disposed relative to the longitudinal axis of the channel |3|' and are secured by bolts |31 and |38 to the wooden jig side members |2d and |25 respectively.

The walls 33 and |54 are provided with a series ci pairs of notches |35, the notchesofA each 5. pair being aligned on an axis parallel with the plates |35 and |36. Resting in each pair of notches |39 and welded to adjacent surfaces of.

the channel |3| is a chair-shaped seat |45.

Between the seat |45 next to the attaching plate |35 and the adjacent'seat |45, the channel I3| has secured to vinner faces of the sidewalls |33 and |34 thereof, by bolts |46, a pair of cleat guides |41 which may be spaced inwardly from the sidewalls by shims |48. On the left hand end of the support |30 is a fixed cleat stop |49. Bolted on sidewalls |33 and |34 near the right hand end of the support is a pair of longer cleatY guides |50 which assist the guides. |41 in centering 'a cleat |5| when'the latter is placed in the form. Pivoted at its lower endl on the walls |33 and |34 to swing between the guides |50 is a cleat endwise usher |52, the inward'rnovement of which is limited by a bolt |53. .This bolt passes through apertures in the end plate |36 and flusher |52 and has coiled thereabout a compression spring |54 which swings the flusher I 52 against the cleat |5| thereby pressing the latter against the fixed stop |49.

Mounted on the bottom of the channels |3| of forms |29 and |21 near the ends of these channels are four rubber tired casters |55 which are located over and rest upon the plates 5| and 52 to support the jig |20 on the table 50 as shown in Figs.'3 and 11.

Journalling in bearings |53 provided on the form end plates .|35 is a shaft |51 having an arm |58. Provided on frame end member |22 is a bearing |58 in which a vertical shaft |60 journals, this having a handle |6| on its upperend and an arm |62 on its lower end. The arm |62 is connected by a link |63 to the arm |58 as shown in Fig. 3A so that when the handle |6| is swung to rotate the arm |62 toward shaft |51 and over dead center, as shown in Figs. 3 and 3A, the shaft |51 is rotated in the direction of the arrow |64 and locked temporarily in the position to which it has been rotated.

To unlock the shaft |51 and give it a partial rotation'in a reverse direction from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3A, the handle |6| is pulled outwardly and swung 180 from the direction in which this handle is shown as extending from the shaft |60 in Figs. 3 and 3A.

The shaft |51 has an arm |61 located adjacent eaeh of the forms |21, |28, and |29, each of these arms having a pin |68 extending parallel with the shaft |62 and having a ball |69 on said pin. Formed on the channel sidewall |33 and extending outwardly therefrom are bearings |10 in which a shaft |1| is slidably received. The end of the shaft |1| adjacent the shaft |51 has a square eye |12, into which the pin |68 and ball |69 extend so that rotation of the shaft |62 imparts longitudinal motion to the shaft |1|.

Slidable on the shaft^|1| is a series of rectangular frames |13, a block |14 being fixed upon said shaft within each of said frames. Extending through apertures formed in opposte sides of each of the frames |13 are pins |15. Coiled about the shaft |1| between each of the blocks |14 and the opposite end of the frame |13 surroundng said block is an expansion spring |16. Pivotally mounted on a bushing |11 which is spaced from the channel wall |33 by a sleeve |18 and secured to said wall by a bolt |19, is a lever |80. This lever has a spike |8| iixed on its upper end and has its lower end bifurcated to form slotted arms |82 throughv which pins |15 'extend so that longitudinal movement ofthe frame l|13 carrying these-pins is trans-1 mitted tothe lever causing this to 'rock and press the spike |8| against a slat |83 which is. resting in the adjacent seat |45.

Freely rotatable on the lower ends of brackets:

| xed on jig frame member |24 are rollers |9| which bear against the inner face of angle guide 51 of the rotatable table 50. AdjustablyA mounted on the lower ends of brackets |92 which are fixed on jig frame rmember |25 for free ro-` tation thereon are guide wheels |93 (Fig. 10)

Provided on the outer face of the wooden frame side member |25 is a series of control groups |94, one of which is provided for use in connection with each of the frames |21, |28.`

and |29. Each of the control groups |94 includes a bolt track |95 having a notch |96 inthe outer surface thereof and a latch release cam |91 which is secured to the member |25, for longitudinal adjustment thereon, by bolts |98.

Mounted on inner faces of end frame members 22 and |23 are slat end guides |99 which are shaped to engage the opposite ends of the slats |83 when these are placed in the seats |45 a when loading a jig |20.

The jigging apparatus 2| also includes a plat form 2 i0 which provides a supporting surface for one or'more jigs |20 when they are travelingv from the discharge end of thetable 50 throughv an unloading position and'a loading position and then back onto the tablel into one of a series of nailing positions.

The area of the platform:2|0'is so disposedv as to provide a support for the rubber tired casters |55 of the jigs |20 when these jigs are traveling from and to -the table 50. The table also has a channel shaped track 2 into which the guide wheels |9| are guided bythe guide track 1| fof the table 50 as the jig leaves this table, so that throughout the travel of the jig onv the platform 2 I0 these rollers ride in track 2 and guide the jig through its various unloading and loading positions and then back onto the receiving end of the table 50 with the latter positioned as shown in full lines in Fig. 1; While the number of jigs used may v ary,` the apparatus 2| llustrated in Fig. 1 is adapted to operate at maximum efliciency with threejigs.

Provided on the structure of the platform 2|0 adjacent arcuate edges 2|5 and 2|6 thereof which are shaped concentrically Withthe axis of the table 50 and lie adjacent the ends of this table, are'arcuate tracks-2H and 2|8 on which the rollers 12 and bali casters 13 ride to balance the table 50 longitudinally and maintainr the upper surfaces of -the plates 5| and 52 on the same level as that of the platform 2|0. f I

Operation` The nailing machine 20and jigging apparatus 2| may be employed for the manufacture' ofA a cooling tower grid G by a crew of three men using three jigs |20 which are shown in Fig.- 1` as normally related ata selected instant in the operational routine.

f The crew includes a loader, a machine operator;

7 and an unloader. The loader works at placing slats and cleats in a jig with the latter in what is lindicatedfas loading position in Fig. l. The.

machine operator puts the loaded jig through the nailing machine while the jig is supported on the table 50. The uploader removes a rcompleted grid G from the jig when the latter is approximately in unload position" as indicated in Fig. 1.

When all of the three crewmen have completed performing their individual functions above indicated, each working on a 4different jig, each crewman shifts the jig he has just ,finished working on in the direction of the arrow 220 to the next crewman to his left, and then each crewman 'repeats his special function in connec tion with the jig which .he has just received from the crewman on his'right.

'Io'empty a jig |20, the handle IGI is rotated 90 from its position in Figs. 3 and 3A so as to rotate all of the' levers |80 and retract the spikes |81 :away from the seats |45. The completed grid G is now lifted from the jig, as by hand, and stacked. A jig |20 is lin this emptied con-f dition when it is delivered by the unloader to the loader.

To load the jig, the loader places a series vof nine slats |83 in the seats |95 provided for receiving these in the forms |21, |28, and |29. When placing these slats in the jig, the loader uniformly positions these with the ends thereof at one end of the jig in contact Awith the stop |99 at that end. He then inserts a cleat l5! in each of the forms |21, |28, and |29 by lowering one endoi that cleat between the pair ofy guides |50,pushing this cleat against the iiusher |52 to compress the spring |54 and then dropping the cleat inside of the xed endstop |49 permitting the spring |54 to flush cleat |5| against said stop'as shown in Figs. 3, 8 and 13. The loader ciated :with the vacant seat in these views is shown as it would beV swung to an exaggerated degree by the lack of a slat in said seat to resist said swinging movement.

Having iinished loading his jig, the loader rolls this along the platform 2|0 into the free space thereon shown in Fig. 1 at the left of the loading position. At the same moment, the unloader shifts his unloaded j ig leftward along the track 2li where it is taken in charge by the loader and vplaced in the loading position.

Having completed the assembly of the grid carried by the jig on the table 50 with the latter in its broken line position shown in Fig. 1, the machine operator propels this jig manually from the table 50 onto the platform 2id -with the rollers I9| of the jig guided by the track 2|| until this jig reaches the unload position shown in Fig. 1.

e The machineY operator -then swings thebell crank 15 to lift the bolt 83 from the hole '33 in the plate 28 and swings the .table 50 into the full line position in which this is shown in Fig. 1. The machine operator then draws the loaded jig, resting on the left hand end of the platform 2 l0, onto the table 50 and proceeds to position this Vjig-in three successive positions in each of which one Yof Lthe forms |21, |28 and |29 is in vertical alignment with the nailing plane of the nailing machine 20., and to actuate the nailing machine to drive nails through the respective cleats and slats with which said jig is loaded.

Fig. 3 illustrates .a jig |20 in the rst of these nailing positions. The jig was delivered into this lposition by the ymachine operatonmerely this and Ywithdraw the latch yarm |09 from the notch |00 in the bolt 99, thereby permitting the spring |0| to impell this bolt inwardly against the bolt 'track |95. Thus upon the arrival of the jig |20 in the position in which it is .shown in'Figs. 6 and 7, this bolt snaps into the notch |96 in said bolt track thereby Vindexing the jig |20 for its first nailing operation as shown in Figs. 3 and 10.

The machine operator now depresses the pedal (not shown) for causing the nailing machine 20 to reciprocate the nail driver head down-- wardly and upwardly to drive nails vertically. downwardly in the nailing plane of the machine and as the latter is symmetrically .disposed with the cleat |5| carried by the .form |21 with the jig |20 thus indexed, these nails penetrate this cleat along the center line thereof and pass through 'this and into the slats |83 vresting in the seats |55.

With this reciprocation of the driver cross head d5 of the nailing machine, the lock release bar d5 descends into engagement with the arm H5 thereby rotating shaft H2 and withdrawing thel bolt d8 from the 'notch .|98 and permitting the latch arm |39 to drop into the notch |00 thereby withholding the bolt until 'it is released for indering thejig inits next nailing position 'by the machine operator pushing the jig along the table 58 until the next control group |94 associated with rthe form |28 comes lomiosite the locking` device resulting yin the indexing of the jig |20 properly for performing the second nailing operation.

As the form |28 is parallel with the Aform |21, no change in the angularrelation of the table 5t relative to the nailing machine 20 is necessary to ready the work for the second nailing position.

Actuation of the nailing machine to drive nails through the vsecond cleat |5| into eachof the slats .|33 again releases the jig to permit it to be moved into its third nailing position. As-this' is located at an oblique angle with reference to the iirst and second nailing positions, it is'vnot only necessary for the operator to advance the' jig |20 to'where the thirdA control group coop# erates with the locking device v to properly index the jig |20 longitudinally on the table 50 for the third nailing operation, but he must also manipulate ,the bell crank 15 to withdraw the' bolt |33 from the hole 31 and then swing the table, while releasing said bolt, to permit the latter to enter the hole 38 and index the table 50 in the broken line position in which this is shown in Fig. 1.

The jig 20 is-thus indexed with the form |29 in alignment with the nailing plane of the nail.

ying-'machineZ and the third nailing operation is then accomplished by tripping the control pedalY of the nailing machine. In this nailing Yoperation bar 46 engages and depresses arm Il@ `ofthe device Si). This automatically releases the yjig |20 from the device 90 at a time when the discharge end of the table 50 is already aligned with the platform 210, and the track 2 l l thereon,

so that immediately upon the consummation of l the third nailing operation the machine operator may manually propel the jig carrying the completed grid onto the platform 2 i to a point where it may be seized by the unloader and transferred entirely from the table 59 onto the platform 2 lil. In the manner above pointed out, the machine .loader swings the table 5D back to where it is indexed in the full-line position in which it is .shownin Figs. 1, 2, and 3 with the table empty 'as shown in Fig. 2 in readiness for receiving another loaded jig 120.

It is desired to point out that with each nail- .ing operation a tremendous downward pressure is applied to that one of the supports I 21, |28, or |29 which is supporting the work in the nailing plane. This pressure causes the rubber tires of the casters |55 to yield, permitting the form in the nailing plane to come to rest on the cover plate 69 of the anvil 58 in alignment with one of the anvil lbars 6l so that this bar supports this form and the work carried thereby, this bar '6| being in turn supported by the rollers 63 mounted thereon and the structure of the anvil base 2l on which these rollers ride (Fig. 11).

The inclined edges 69a of the cover plate 69 act as guides for the forms |27, 28 and 29 when `the jigs 120 arebeing shifted along the table 5B in the operation of the apparatus 2 l.

I claim: i 1. In a device for presenting special work to an industrial nailing machine, the combination .oft a table intersecting the nail driving plane of fsaid nailing machine and rotatable about a ver-l Yplatform for guiding said jig along said path as it is received on said platform from said table and maintaining said jig on said path guiding said jig back onto said table when said jig reaches the end of said path.

2. A combination as in claim 1 in which means is provided for indexing said jig in various longitudinal positions on said table for the performance of a series of nailing operations on work carried by said jig; and secondary indexing means for locking said table in either of two angled positions of said table relative to said nailing machine.

3. A combination as in claim 1 having indexing means for locating said table in either of two angled positions of said table relative to said nailing machine, said table being angled to receive a jig from said platform in one of said positions of said table and being angled to discharge a jig therefrom onto said platform in the other of said angled positions of said table.

4. A combination as in claim 1 in which the vertical axis of rotation of said table lies in the aforesaid vertical plane of nailing of said nailing machine. Y

:710 5. In a jigging apparatus for an industrial nailing machine which drives nails in a given nailing plane, the combination of: a platform providing an endless path which extends through said nailing machine in a substantially horizontal plane: a series of wheeled jigs supported on said platform and adapted to travel around said endless path; a table incorporated with said platform and forming a portion of said path, said table extending into said nailing plane; and means for changing the angular relation of said table with said nailing plane while said table is supporting one of said jigs to alter the angular relationpf said jig with said plane for successive nailing operations on work carried by said jig.

6. In a jigging apparatus for an industrial nailing machine which drives nails in a given nailing plane, the combination of a table providing' a .pathway extending through said nailing plane;

a jig adapted to hold work elements in the assembled relation in which it is desired they be united by nails, said jig being supported upon and adapted to travel over said table along said pathway; an anvil disposed in said nailing plane a slight distance below said jig, said jig being yieldable so as to be depressed until it comes to rest on said anvil, by the downward pressure applied by said nailing machine against said work incidental to a nailing operation.

7. A combination as in claim 6 in which said jig is provided with rubber tired wheels which support the same when it travels along said path, said wheels yielding during the nailing operation to permit the jig to come to rest on said anvil.

8.. A combination as in claim 6 in whichv said anvil is embodied with said table; `and means for rotating said table about a vertical axis to vary the angular relation between said nailing plane and said jig in successive nailing operations.l

9. A combination as in claim 6 in which said table is pivotally related to said nailing machine to rotate relative thereto; and means for indexing said table in different angular positionsrelative to said nailing machine in successive nailing operations. Y

10. A combination as in claim 6 in which said table is rotatable about an axis lying substantially in said nailing plane whereby the angular relation of said table, said jig and work carried on the latter relative to said nailing plane may be varied for successive nailing operations, said anvil being provided on said table and rotating therewith, said anvil providing a separate jig supporting bar for each of the diiferent angular relations aforesaid between said table and saidl nailing plane; and means for indexing said tablel in said different angularrelations with said Plane. 11. In a jigging apparatus for an industrial nailing machine, the combination of: a'table extending through said nailing machine and mov'- able between a plurality of positions relative thereto; a jig adapted to hold work elements in an assembled relation in which it is desired they be Aunited by nails, said jig being adaptedto vbe supported on and to travel over said table through said machine; a stationary U-shaped assembly platform disposed substantially on the same level as said table, opposite end portionsof said platform embracing said table and uniting therewith, whereby said platform provides a runway,'over which a jig may travel from one end of said table -onto said platform and then from said platform onto the opposite end of said table; co-operative guide means on said jig and said platform for guiding said jig in its travel over said platform aeoaoec from the point where said jig is received from one' end of said table'A to the point where it is delivered onto the opposite end of said table; and separate' guide means provided on said table for ico-operating with the guide means on said jig ior'guidng' said jig in its travel across said table.

1121, In a jiggi'ng apparatus for an industrial nailing machine, the combination of r a table extending Vthrough said nailing machine; a jig adapted to hold workV element-s in an assembled relation in' which it is desired they be united by nails, said jig! being' adapted to be supported on and' to travel! over said table through said machine; an assembly platform disposed substantially on the saine level as' said table and uniting therewith to provide` a runway over which a jig may travel from' one end of said table onto said platform. andi thenfr from said` platform onto an opposite end ofsaid-table; means pivotally relating said table to said nailing machine whereby said tableYY is swingable between` two positions in one of which saidtable is adapted to receive a jig from'said platform and in the other of which said table is adaptedl to deliver a jig onto said platform: and guide' means on. said platform for gudirigiV said jig in its travel over said platform from, the point where said. jig is received from one' endo'f said table to the point where it is. de-

livered onto the opposite end'. of said table.

I3,- In a jigging apparatus for an industrial nailing" machine which drives nails in a given nailing plane, the combination of: a table extending through saidV nailing. plane; means for mounting said table to rotate about a vertical axis; a jig adapted to hold work elements in assembled relation, said jig being adapted to be supported upon and travel overv said table; primary. means tor' indexing said jig in a series of progressively advanced positions on saidv table; and secondary means for indexing said table in either of a plurality' of angular positions relative to' said nailing plane.

I4. A combination as in claim 13 in which said primary indexing' means automatically latches said jig in one of said series of positionsy relative to said table when said jig is moved into said positio'n; and means responsive to the actuation of the nailing mechanism of said machine with said table in either of its two angular positions aforesaid, to actuate' said primary indexing means to release said jig therefrom and permit said jig to be moved to its next advanced position relative to said table.

15.111 ajiggingv apparatus for an industrial nailing machine, the combination of a table extending through said". nailing machine and movable between a plurality of positions relative thereto; a jig adapted to hold Work elements in ari assembled relation in which it is desired they bel united by nails, said jig being adapted to be supported` on and to travel over said table through said machine; a stationary U-shaped assembly platform disposed substantially' on the same level as said table, opposite ends of said platform embracing said' table' and uniting therewith toprovide a runway over which a jig may travel from one end ofl said tableA onto said platform, and, continuing on said runway, travel from said platform on-to the opposite end of said table; guide tracks on said table and platform for guiding said jig in its travel along said runway; and rollers extending downwardly from said jig to engage successively with said guide tracks to determine the paths travelled by said jig over said table and over said platform.

16. A combination as in claim 12y in which guide track is provided on said table for guiding a jig travelling thereon, one end of saidv table matching with the corresponding end ofk said platform when said table is in one of said positions, the other end of said tablel matching with the opposite end ofv said platform when said table is in the other of said positions, corresponding ends-of said track and said guide means at' the matching end of said table meeting in matching relation to provide acontinuous guiding of a jig as it is being' transferred from said table onto said platform or from said platform onto said table.

17. A combination as in claim 16 including primary meansv for temporarily indexing said jig in each of a progressive series of working positions on said table.

18. A combination as in claim 17 including seo'- ondary means for temporarily indexingv said table in either of its said positions.

19. A combination as in claim 18 including means responsive to the actuation of' said nailing machine with said table in either of its two positions to release said pig from said primary indexing means to permit said jig to be moved to its next working position.

20. In a jigging apparatus for an industrial nailing machine, the combination of a table extending through said nailing machine; means for pivoting said table about a vertical axis to swing said table between a plurality of different angular positions relative to said nailing machine; a jig adapted to hold work elements in an assembled relation in which it is desired they be united by nails; a guide track on said table for guiding said jig in alignment with said table; means for securing said table in any of said plurality of angular positions; and means for indexing said jig to halt the same in each of a series of working positions as it travels along said table.

21. A combination as in claim 20 in which a U-shaped platforml is provided with the latter located onV substantially the same level as said table and with opposite ends of said platform embracing said tab'le; and guide means on said platform which are brought into co-operating relation with said track, when said table is swung into a certain one of its rotational positions aforesaid, so as to guide said jig from said table onto said platform.

22. A combination as in claim 21 in which said track and said guide means are brought into cooperating relation to guide said jig from the opposite end of said platform onto said table by placing the latter in a certain different one of its angularpositions aforesaid.

REGINALD H. HEARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are oi" record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain July 4, 1929 

